Ventilating partition construction



y 0, 1969 N. NELSSON 3,444,800

VENT ILATING PART ITI ON CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 16, 1962 Sheet of 2 I N VENTOR. J ls M1830 y 1969 N. NELSSON 3,444,800

VENT ILATING PARTITION CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 16, 1962 Sheet 3 of 2 INVENTOR Jls/llssazz United States Patent 3,444,800 VENTILATING PARTITION CONSTRUCTION Nels Nelsson, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 217,316 Int. Cl. F2413 13/08, 13/00 US. CI. 98-40 14 Claims This invention relates to a ventilating partition construction and more particularly to a suspended ceiling construction which is suitably apertured or ported for uniform low velocity air distribution from a plenum space above the construction to the room below. It will be understood, however, that although the invention is particularly adapted for a ceiling, certain features of the invention may be equally utilizable in the construction of a ventilating wall.

Recently an increasing amount of interest has developed in the use of a suspended ceiling as part of the ventilating or air-conditioning system of a building. In such constructions the space above the ceiling acts as a plenum, and the pressure of the conditioned air which is fed into this plenum from a central unit, for example, causes the air to move downwardly through a multiplicity of apertures in the ceiling and to thereby be distributed to the room below. Such construction is intended to provide a uniform low velocity air distribution for maximum draft-free comfort and relative temperature uniformity in the underlying room.

Perhaps the simplest form of ventilating ceiling contemplates the provision of apertures in the individual ceiling panels of the construction; however, for optimum results, there should be means for regulating the movement of air through the panel apertures so that the air may be introduced into the room from the ceiling plenum at a uniform rate over the entire ceiling area.

Some proposed ventilating ceiling constructions have required the use of specially designed suspension members suitably apertured to permit the passage of air therethrough. Such constructions, however, in addition to being somewhat more expensive than the usual suspended ceiling construction, have in general been more difiicult to erect, and the appearance of these suspension members from the room side has in general left much to be desired.

It is one object of this invention, therefore, to provide a paneled construction for the wall or ceiling which will permit the flow of air therethrough in a very eificient and uniform manner.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved air distribution system which will provide maximum draft-free comfort within the rooms serviced thereby.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ventilating ceiling construction which requires only structures which are basic to most suspended ceilings, particularly those used in commercial buildings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a ventilating ceiling construction which will permit the easy and complete regulation and control of the flow of air therethrough.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a ventilating ceiling construction which may be easily erected and adjusted to provide a uniform low velocity air distribution from the space thereabove into the space therebelow.

Other objects will be seen and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The ventilating ceiling constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention includes a plurality of "ice panel members and a plurality of support members for supporting these panel members in a substantially coplanar side-by-side relation. Portions of the support members are apertured, and the panel and support members are mounted for relative sliding movement with respect to each other to effect selective covering and uncovering of the apertured portions of the support members. Thus, the movement of air from a plenum or space formed above the panel members to the room or space therebelow may be regulated by the relative positioning of the support and panel members. If desired, the panel members may be correspondingly apertured so that by the relative movement of the panel and support members, the re-' spective apertures in these members may be aligned or partially aligned to likewise regulate the flow of air through the construction. Particular configurations may be employed for the apertures to provide fine control over the flow of air through the construction.

With reference to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the top or plenum side of a ventilating ceiling constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the selective covering and uncovering of the apertures in the support members by the relative positioning of the ceiling panel members;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top or plenum side of a portion of a ceiling construction of slightly modified design wherein apertures provided in both the panel members and the support members may be selectively aligned;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of one of the support members, showing an aperture therein of particular configuration;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of portions of a panel member and support member therefor having modified aperture configurations;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing portions of a panel member and support member therefor having apertures of further modified design;

FIG. 6 is similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 but showing portions of a panel member and support member therefor having aperture configurations of further modification;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a ceiling construction of slightly modified design; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

With more particular reference to the drawings and FIG. 1, there is illustrated one form of an improved ventilating ceiling 10 constructed in accordance with this invention. This ceiling construction includes a plurality of panel members 12 preferably of an acoustical material and a plurality of support members which in this instance consist of metallic T-shaped primary support members 14 and similarly shaped secondary support or cross members 16. Each primary support member 14 is preferably provided with a central upstanding web or rib 14a and a pair of oppositely directed outwardly extending flanges 14b and formed at the underside of the web. Each cross member 16 is provided with a central upstanding rib 16a and a pair of oppositely directed flanges 16b and 160. The support members 14 and 16, however, may, if desired, differ from the configuration of the illustrated T-shape. For example, these members may have a Z-shaped section as illustrated in FIG. 5 of Patent No. 2,767,440.

The cross members 16 extend between and serve to maintain the primary support members in spaced parallel relationship. The members 14 and 16 may be connected by means such as suggested in Patent No. 2,689,630. The

primary support members 14 are normally suspended by suitable wires 18 from overhead joists or an existing ceiling (not shown) in order to provide a plenum space above the ceiling in which is introduced by suitable means well known in the art either heated or cooled air, whereby a mass of air is accumulated in such plenum space at a pressure greater than exists in the room below. The panels 12 may, if desired, be acoustical tile of either rectangular or square shape and constructed from a wide variety of materials such as cement asbestos, gypsum, mineral fibers, wood fibers or metal.

In the construction of FIG. 1 the peripheral edges of the panels 12 rest upon the flanged portions of both the primary and cross support members 14 and 16. It will be noted that only the lateral flange 16b of each cross member 16 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced elongated apertures 20, whereas the opposite lateral flanges 160 of the cross members are not apertured. The reason for the arrangement of the apertures in only flange 16b will be described more fully hereinafter. The cross members 16 are positioned with their apertured flanges 16b oriented in the same direction, and the spacing A between the ribs 16a of adjacent cross members 16 in this construction is greater than one dimension of the panels (the width in this instance), although to prevent accidental disengagement of the panels from the cross members, this spacing should exceed the panel width by less than the width of either of the flanges 16b or 16c.

The ribs 14a of the adjacent parallel primary support members 14 are spaced from each other by a distance B approximately equal to the other dimension of the panels (the length in this instance). With this construction, the apertures 20 in the flanges 16b of the cross members may be opened or closed either partially or completely depending upon the relative lateral positioning of the panel 12 with respect to the secondary support members 16. The panels, in this instance, are of conventional construction having preferably flat or butt edges, and the panels serve generally as a barrier to the transmission of air therethrough. The aperture adjustment by the relative positioning of the panels 12 may be accomplished from below the ceiling by gently lifting upwardly on each individual panel and shifting it laterally to the desired extent.

The construction illustrated in FIG. 2 is somewhat similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1; however, in this construction both the panels 12 and the cross members 16 are apertured. The apertures 22 in the panels 12' are arranged adjacent to, but spaced from, two of the opposed edges of the panel. The spacing B between ribs 14a of adjacent primary members 14 is in excess of one of the panel dimensions (length, in this instance), and, thus, each panel may be shifted laterally with respect to the primary support members 14 (longitudinally with respect to the cross members) so as to selectively align the apertures 20' in the cross member with the apertures 22 in the panel 12' and thereby regulate the flow of air through the structure. In addition, the edges of the panel 12 in this embodiment are kerfed or slotted to accommodate the flanges 16b and 160 of the cross members. Thus, the cross members will not be visible from the room or underside and the panels will rest flatly on the flanges 14b and 14c of the primary support members 16. If desired, however, the adjacent edges of the panels 12' may also be kerfed to accommodate the flanges 14b and 140 of the primary support members thereby rendering these members also relatively invisible from the room side of the construction. In this latter arrangement, however, the kerfs formed in panels 12' must be of suflicient depth to permit adjustment of the panels without one of the primary flanges becoming disengaged from the respective edge of the panel.

There are a number of diiferent aperture configurations which may be employed in the foregoing constructions. For example, in FIG. 3 there is illustrated a rectangular configuration for the aperture 20" in the flange 16b of the secondary support member 16. The aperture 20", it will be noted, has rib 16a defining one side thereof. This arrangement of the aperture with respect to the rib may be desirable in a construction such as shown in FIG. 1, in that the differential between the width of the panel and the spacing A may be somewhat less than might otherwise be the case.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 a combination of a rectangular aperature 20 and a series of angularly aligned smaller apertures 22' may be employed. In the particular construction illustrated in FIG. 4, the rectangular aperture 20" is in flange 16b of the secondary support member 16, and the smaller angularly disposed apertures 22' are disposed in the kerfed edge of the panel 12. The smaller apertures in each series may be either the same size, or they may vary in size. Moreover, it would, of course, be possible to place the smaller apertures 22 in the flange 16b and the larger aperture 20" in the panel 12 with the same results. It is apparent that by merely sliding the panel 12 relative to the secondary support member 16, the desired number of small holes 22 (or the desired size of small hole) may be aligned with the larger hole 20" to thereby regulate the flow of air through the construction. This type arrangement permits a precise variation in the effective aperture area and, thus, provides a very accurate regulation of air flow.

In FIG. 5 there is illustrated a combination of the rectangular aperture 20" formed in member flange 16b and a tapered or tear-shaped aperture 22", the latter in this instance being in the panel 12 adjacent the edge thereof. The taper of the aperture provides relatively close control over the aperture area and, thus, over the air flow.

In FIG. 6 there is illustrated the combination of a triangular shaped aperture 22", formed in the panel margin and the rectangular shaped aperture 20" formed in member flange 16b.

In all the embodiments shown in FIGS. 46, the shape of the apertures in both the member flange and the panel margin may vary from that shown without departing from the scope of this invention.

In FIG. 7 a slightly modified ventilating ceiling is illustrated. In this construction all four edges of each panel are kerfed, and the flanges 14b and of each primary support member 14 are disposed within the opposing kerfed edge portions of the panels. The panels are arranged in abutting relationship, and cross members in this embodiment are flat spline pieces 24 which extend into the kerfed ends of the abutting panels thereby serving to maintain the coplanar continuity of abutting panels. One or more slots 26 are provided adjacent one edge of each panel and in vicinity of the kerfs thereof. A corresponding slot 28 is provided in the spline piece 24, and upon adjustment of the spline piece in the kerfed abutting edges of the panels, the slot 28 may be moved into or out of alignment with the panel slot 26. Movement of the spline piece within the kerfed abutting edges of the adjacent panels may be accomplished by a knife blade extending up through the joint formed between the abutting panels and engaging one end of the spline piece.

Thus, the spline pieces 24 not only serve to maintain the intermediate or central portion of the panels in substantial coplanar alignment, but they also serve to regulate the flow of air through the structure from the plenum space thereabove to the room therebelow.

It may be seen that by using any of the foregoing embodiments of the invention, the flow of air through the ceiling construction'may be quickly and easily regulated. No special, costly structural elements are required in order to form the improved ceiling, and, therefore, the construction is not only relatively inexpensive, as compared with other ventilating ceiling constructions, but it may also be erected with a minimum amount of time and effort.

While several embodiments of this invention have been described above, further modifications may be made thereto and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a ventilating panel and a support member for supporting an edge portion of said panel in a horizontal plane, the support member being provided with an aperture in the area thereof designed to support said panel edge portion, said supported panel edge portion being provided with a passageway extending from one surface thereof to the opposite surface thereof, said panel being adapted to be supported by said support memher in horizontally adjustable engagement, whereby movement of said panel with respect to said support member brings said passageway into or out of register with said aperture to control the flow of air through said pasageway and said aperture.

2. In a ventilating ceiling construction, a plurality of elongated support members arranged in horizontally spaced, substantially parallel relation, each support member having a horizontally disposed, apertured, longitudinally extending flange; and a plurality of ceiling panels disposed in substantially coplanar relation and having marginal portions thereof supported by said apertured flanges, said panel supported marginal portions being provided with apertures extending therethrough from the panel surface engaged by said flange to the opposite panel surface, said panels being mounted for sliding movement relative to said support members to effect selective registration of the apertures of said panel marginal portions and said flanges and regulation of air flow through said ceiling.

3. The ceiling construction recited in claim 2 wherein the apertures formed in said flanges differ in configuration from the apertures formed in said supported panel marginal portions.

4. The ceiling construction recited in claim 2 wherein said flange is provided with enlarged apertures and the marginal portions of said panels are provided with sets of relatively small apertures, the apertures of a set being in close proximity whereby air flow through said ceiling is regulated by registering the desired number of set apertures with said enlarged aperture.

5. In combination, a substantially horizontal ceiling panel member and a substantially horizontal support member engaging and supporting an edge portion of said panel member in a horizontal plane, one of said members being provided with an opening extending from one surface to the other in the area thereof designed for engagement with the other of said members, said members while in supporting engagement being relatively movable in a horizontal direction between a plurality of positions in which different portions of the area of said opening through said one of said members are closed by portions of the other of said members in engagement therewith, whereby such relative movement of said members between said positions varies the effective area of said opening through which air may pass from one side of said panel to the other.

6. In combination, a substantially horizontal ceiling panel member and a substantially horizontal support member engaging and supporting an edge portion of said panel member in a horizontal plane, said support member being provided with an opening extending from one surface to the other in the area thereof designed for engagement with said panel member, said members while in supporting engagement being relatively movable in a horizontal direction between a plurality of positions in which different portions of the area of said opening through said support member are closed by portions of said panel member in engagement therewith, whereby such relative movement of said members between said positions varies the effective area of said opening through which air may pass from one side of said panel to the other.

7. In combination, a substantially horizontal ceiling panel member and a substantially horizontal support member engaging and supporting an edge portion of said panel member in a horizontal plane, each of said members being provided with at least one opening extending therethrough in the area thereof designed for engagement with the other of said members, said member while in supporting engagement being relatively movable in a horizontal direction between a plurality of positions in which different portions of the opening through said members are closed by portions of the other of said members in engagement therewith, whereby such relative movement of said members between said positions varies the effective area of said openings through which air may pass from one side of said panel to the other.

8. The combination of claim 7 in which the lower surface of said panel edge portion is supported on the upper surface of a portion of said support member.

9. The combination of claim 7 in which the support member comprises a lower supporting flange, and the lower surface of said panel edge portion is supported on the upper surface of said flange.

10. The combination of claim 7 in which the openings in said panel and said supporting member are spaced from their adjacent edges.

11. The combination of claim 7 in which the members while in supporting engagement are relatively movable in a horizontal direction transversely of said supporting member between positions in which different portions of the openings in said members overlap and positions in which the openings through said members are closed by portions of the other of said members in engagement therewith.

12. The combination of claim 7 in which the members while in supporting engagement are relatively movable in a horizontal direction longitudinally of said supporting member between positions in which different portions of the openings in said members overlap and positions in which the openings through said members are closed by portions of the other of said members in engagement therewith.

13. A ventilating ceiling construction comprising a substantially rectangular panel member and a group of rectangularly arranged, substantially horizontal support members, each of said support members engaging and supporting an edge portion of said panel member in a horizontal plane and having a stop portion for limiting movement of said panel toward said support member, said panel having at least one dimension parallel to an edge thereof somewhat less than the distance between the stop portions of the supporting members normal thereto to permit movement of said panel between said last-mentioned stop portions, said panel member being of a size that its edge portions are supported by and in engagement with each of said support members at all times, at least one of said panel member and a cooperating support member having an opening therethrough in the area engaged by the other of said members, said panel member being horizontally movable between a plurality of positions in which different portions of the area of any opening through either of said last-mentioned members are closed by portions of the other of said members in engagement therewith, whereby such movement of the panel varies the eifective open area through which air may pass from one side of said panel to the other.

14. A ventilating ceiling construction comprising a substantially rectangular panel member and a group of rectangularly arranged, spaced substantially horizontal support members, each of said support members engaging and supporting an edge portion of said panel member in a horizontal plane and having a stop portion for limiting movement of said panel toward said support member, said panel having at least one dimension parallel to an edge thereof somewhat less than the distance between the stop portions of the supporting members normal thereto to permit horizontal movement of said panel between said lastmentioned stop portions, said panel member being of a size that its edge portions are supported by and in engagement with each of said support members at all times, said panel member.and a cooperating support member each having an opening therethrough in the area engaged by the other of said members, said panel member being horizontally movable between a plurality of positions in which different portions of the areas of said openings through said lastmentioned members are closed by portions of the other of said members in engagement therewith, whereby such movement of the panel varies the effective open area through which air may pass from one side of said panel to the other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,920,357 1/1960 Ericson 20-4 2,180,945 11/1939 Morey 20-4 X 2,848,934 8/1958 Allander 94-40 3,101,661 8/1963 Bibb 9840 3,127,827 4/1964 Ericson 98-40 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A VENTILATING PANEL AND A SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING AN EDGE PORTION OF SAID PANEL IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, THE SUPPORT MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN APERTURE IN THE AREA THEREOF DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SAID PANEL EDGE PORTION, SAID SUPPORTED PANEL EDGE PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING FROM ONE SURFACE THEREOF TO THE OPPOSITE SURFACE THEREOF, SAID PANEL BEING ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORT MEMBER IN HORIZONTALLY ADJUSTABLE ENGAGEMENT, WHEREBY MOVE MENT OF SAID PANEL WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BRINGS SAID PASSAGEWAY INTO OR OUT OF REGISTER WITH SAID APERTURE TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY AND SAID APERTURE. 